Plan around 8TB mirrored space
Choose the 16TB package for a mirrored library that fits comfortably below 8TB, allowing room for growth and backup versions. Deletion, malware and a lost enclosure still require a separate backup.[1]
Buffalo · NAS buying guide
Buffalo LinkStation 720 16TB buying guide
Product facts and dated cost
Buffalo LinkStation 720 16TB · Exact identity: LS720D1602
2 primary bays · 1.3GHz 6-core processor · 2GB RAM · 1 × 2.5GbE · Storage included; additional drives require separate planning
Catalog amount: $589.99 · historical · Price record: 2026-09-26T15:26:31.830873+00:00. Tax and shipping excluded.
Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer.
LinkStation 720 16TB: specifications and dated store comparison →Buffalo LinkStation 720 16TB is a populated 2-bay 2.5GbE appliance for straightforward file sharing. Choose the 16TB package for a mirrored library that fits comfortably below 8TB, allowing room for growth and backup versions.
LS720D1602 · 2 bays · 16TB HDDs included · US configuration
This guide covers LS720D1602, the US 16TB package with HDDs included. We compare manufacturer documents, exact merchant listings; ChooseCompute has not tested this NAS. Choose the 16TB package for a mirrored library that fits comfortably below 8TB, allowing room for growth and backup versions. PCMag's measured folder copy used the 4TB LS720D, not this capacity. See evidence and test gaps ↓
Is it a good fit?
16TB populated shared storage
Drives included and 2.5GbE file access for a small household or office; capacity planning depends on RAID.[1]
A backup destination
Keep a separate copy and verify restore behavior; RAID alone is insufficient.[1]
macOS 26 Time Machine
Source conflict. Buffalo KB6060 (updated 2025-10-13) lists LS700 as compatible with macOS 26 Time Machine. LS700 user manual 35022143-13 (March 2026) p.80 says Time Machine backups are no longer supported starting with macOS Tahoe 26 and tells users on older macOS not to upgrade if they want to keep Time Machine. Neither statement is discarded.[2][7]
Containers, VMs and transcoding
The cited documents do not establish these workloads for this exact appliance.[1]
Key specifications
Full specifications ↗Follow any specification for its full conditions and sources.
Living with it
What matters in everyday use
What the 2.5GbE port changes
A 2.5GbE switch or direct compatible client is needed to use the faster link; drive workload and RAID can still limit transfers.[1]
Check your Mac backup version first
Source conflict. Buffalo KB6060 (updated 2025-10-13) lists LS700 as compatible with macOS 26 Time Machine. LS700 user manual 35022143-13 (March 2026) p.80 says Time Machine backups are no longer supported starting with macOS Tahoe 26 and tells users on older macOS not to upgrade if they want to keep Time Machine. Neither statement is discarded. Check firmware and complete an actual backup and restore test.[2]
A storage appliance with a defined scope
The reviewed documents describe file sharing, USB backup and WebAccess. They do not establish Docker/VM hosting, NVMe expansion or hardware-transcoding performance for this unit. Choose a documented app-capable NAS if those are core requirements.[1]
What remains unmeasured
PCMag's 2022 lab article tested the 4TB LS720D (two 2TB drives, RAID 1), not LS720D1602. On a 4.9GB mixed folder copy with the NAS and desktop on the same router it measured 85 MBps write and 80 MBps read. Treat that as same-chassis family context for the 16TB package, not a measurement of these factory disks or a proven 2.5GbE path.[1][6]
Official replacement and USB limits
The LS700 manual (March 2026) forbids hot-swapping: power off before changing a drive. That overrides PCMag’s hot-swappable bay wording. External USB disks are limited to one device per port and the first partition; HFS Plus is read-only on the NAS; Management Backup is not a Btrfs/ZFS snapshot.[7]
What still needs a real-world test
We have verified the specifications, but have not found an original test that we can reliably apply to this exact model. The advice above follows the documented features; performance, noise and long-term reliability are not independently established here.
Common HDD combinations
Examples ordered by recorded drive unit price, which may be historical or an editorial reference. Check capacity, vendor compatibility, included storage and price evidence before choosing. These are component checks, not compatibility certifications.
- LinkStation 720 16TB + 2 × WD Red Plus 2TB (WD20EFPX, 2TB each) →
Component total: $899.97 · historical · Oldest price record: 2026-09-26T15:26:31.830873+00:00 · 4TB raw, before redundancy.
Historical price estimate. Calculated from separately purchased components, not a complete-system offer. NAS price record: 2026-09-26T15:26:31.830873+00:00; drive price record: 2026-10-09T01:23:41.974420+00:00. Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer. Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer. Recheck component prices, stock, shipping and tax at the stores before purchase; even recent checks do not guarantee live prices.
- LinkStation 720 16TB + 2 × IronWolf 4TB (ST4000VN006, 4TB each) →
Component total: $969.97 · historical · Oldest price record: 2026-09-26T15:26:31.830873+00:00 · 8TB raw, before redundancy.
Historical price estimate. Calculated from separately purchased components, not a complete-system offer. NAS price record: 2026-09-26T15:26:31.830873+00:00; drive price record: 2026-10-09T03:58:24.994342+00:00. Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer. Price observed at the store on the shown date. Confirm the current price and availability at the store. Recheck component prices, stock, shipping and tax at the stores before purchase; even recent checks do not guarantee live prices.
- LinkStation 720 16TB + 2 × WD Red Plus 4TB (WD40EFZZ, 4TB each) →
Component total: $979.97 · historical · Oldest price record: 2026-09-26T15:26:31.830873+00:00 · 8TB raw, before redundancy.
Historical price estimate. Calculated from separately purchased components, not a complete-system offer. NAS price record: 2026-09-26T15:26:31.830873+00:00; drive price record: 2026-09-27T13:58:17.239646+00:00. Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer. Historical price observation. Recheck the price and availability before buying; this is not a current offer. Recheck component prices, stock, shipping and tax at the stores before purchase; even recent checks do not guarantee live prices.
Before you buy
Prices & costs to plan for
The drives are already in the package
The listed unit includes 16TB raw HDD capacity. For LS720D1602, compare the complete populated package price, plus an independent backup target and any required network upgrade.[1]
Budget for recovery and regional support
The current US warranty table lists two years for this family. Keep the receipt; warranty replacement does not protect or guarantee recovery of your files.[3]
Compare stores for this exact model
LS720D1602 · 2 bays · 16TB HDDs included · US configuration Check the total delivered price at the store.
Current price needs checking
Check stores below
3 stores · 0 recent price observations
Amazon
Sold by Buffalo Americas Inc
$589.99
Historical price
Currency not confirmed
Stock not confirmed · Condition not recorded
Observed Sep 26, 2026, 3:26:31 PM UTC[8]
View exact product at AmazonB&H
Seller not recorded
$589.99
Historical price
Currency not confirmed
Stock not confirmed · Condition not recorded
Observed Sep 27, 2026, 5:14:57 AM UTC[10]
View exact product at B&HBest Buy
Sold by antonline
$669.49
Historical price
Currency not confirmed
Stock not confirmed · Condition not recorded
Observed Sep 27, 2026, 1:46:56 PM UTC[9]
View exact product at Best BuyPrices are dated observations. Confirm the model, seller, condition, stock and delivered total at the store. Older prices remain visible as history. Links may earn a commission.
Questions before buying
How much of the 16TB can I use?
With two equal disks in RAID 1, plan for about 8TB before formatting and system overhead. RAID 0 exposes more capacity but has no disk-failure tolerance.[1]
Does LS720D1602 support new macOS 26 Time Machine backups?
Do not assume a single current policy. KB6060 lists LS700 as compatible with macOS 26 Time Machine; the March 2026 LS700 manual p.80 says Time Machine is no longer supported on macOS 26. Confirm the installed firmware and complete an actual backup and restore test.[2][7]
Is the HDD model supplied in the box guaranteed?
The exact current-stock HDD revision is not guaranteed in the reviewed documents. Historical review samples do not establish what a new order contains.[1]
Can I add memory, SSD cache or containers later?
No supported upgrade path or container-host workload was established in the cited US documents. Buy this configuration for its documented file and backup functions.[1]
What does the standard package mean for warranty?
The current Buffalo Americas warranty table lists 2 years for LinkStation 210/220/710/720. Check US seller eligibility and retain proof of purchase.[3]
Does remote access replace a backup?
No. WebAccess provides another way to reach the same stored files. It does not create a separate copy that survives device loss or data deletion.[1]
Sources
Research updated Sep 11, 2026. Individual source check dates are listed below. Measurements belong to the named reviewers; tested configurations and software versions may differ from the product you buy.
- [1] Buffalo LinkStation 720 16TB official specifications ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Specifications tables → LS720D1602 / LinkStation 720 column; Overview; Downloads
- [2] Buffalo macOS 26 Time Machine compatibility ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · KB6060 → Model Series Compatibility; article updated 2025-10-13
- [3] Buffalo Americas warranty terms ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · NAS warranty table → LS200/LS700 or SoHo; proof of purchase and region restrictions
- [4] Amazon — LS720D1602 ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Product information → Model Number / Mfr Part Number; selected retail buy box; Sold by Buffalo Americas Inc. Main price requires cart.
- [5] Best Buy — LS720D1602 ↗
Checked Sep 10, 2026 · Product heading / Model; Sold & shipped by; New marketplace offers. Cached delivery dates are not a current offer observation.
- [6] PCMag Buffalo LinkStation 720 review (UK edition of the 2022 lab test) ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Lead (4TB LS720D tested); Preinstalled Drives; Installation's a Cinch folder-copy 85/80 MBps; Final Thoughts. US pcmag.com returned 403.
- [7] LinkStation 700 user manual 35022143-13 (EN, March 2026) ↗
Checked Sep 11, 2026 · Printed pp.54 USB FS footnotes; 66–72 LVM and backup modes; 80 Time Machine vs macOS 26; 220–226 drive replacement including non-malfunctioning-drive hot-swap prohibition. Not applied to LS200.
- [8] Amazon product price observation ↗
Checked Sep 26, 2026 · Captured observation; sha256:50857bbee9892c04114708aef9d7a135b30ada06038b31ee96a6246e681598c0
- [9] Best Buy product price observation ↗
Checked Sep 27, 2026 · Captured observation; sha256:4f2e45b5e6272584d8457eb723a3718e6a34d645bd4665a5e619ce6c6d95372a
- [10] B&H product price observation ↗
Checked Sep 27, 2026 · Captured observation; sha256:bae9f5fc34f52466d45008fc3d11866e30c63de0448e57d4a30798bc37840dd3
Research and review record
- Research: Grok 4.6 · Source research and data update
- Self-check: Grok 4.6 · Researcher self-check
- Independent review: GPT-6 (Codex) · Exact SKU and capacity specifications; consumer versus SoHo warranty and documentation boundaries; original test conditions and available figures; primary US new-item offers and honest residual coverage.
- Editorial integration: GPT-6 (Codex) · Editorial integration and validation
Independent review completed for the scope recorded in the audit.
Source evidence and review history (JSON)